New issues to watch

NE of the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has registered displeasure over the attitude of the Federal Government towards the implementation of the Memorandumof Understanding (MoU) signed last November regarding the new agreements reached with the union.

The MoU largely covers the implementation of the Needs Based Assessment of Public Universities as well as other areas of the ASUU 2009 agreement.

After the devastating effect of the lengthy strike of last year (July-December) on the academic calendar, the last thing we need to here is some foot-dragging by the government over implementation. The only way to make up for the precious time students lost at home is for the MoU to walk.

Since the Federal Government has already made a commitment to implementing it, then there should be no further delay. There is a lot of work to do to spend the N200 billion meant for this year. The implementation committee should settle to work. We cannot afford another strike. Since schools resumed between December and early January, some have not been able to settle down because of internal crisis. Any cause for ASUU to call for a national strike again will be a terrible blow on such schools. We must not allow it happen

Osun govt’s peace efforts

The news of some pupils of Baptist High School, in Iwo, Osun State, appearing in school in choir uniforms was really hilarious. I had a good laugh when I heard of it. I tried to imagine what went through the minds of teachers and others as the pupils filed into school in the ‘uniforms.’

But jokes apart – because the act was not a joke but a protest – I know that the pupils could have acted on their own. There were some adults who must have instigated them to do so. However, that is not the focus of this article. What made me remember the incident is the effort by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to make peace with the various groups who have had one scruple or the other with the government’s education reforms.The reforms have resulted in the merger of some schools, introduction of similar uniforms for all levels of the school – elementary, middle and high schools. Like happens in almost all cases, not all stakeholders are happy about the changes.

I commend the peace initiative and I hope something positive will come out of it.

A call to commitment (new Rivers Education Strategy Plan/Charters)

Really, we need to get rid of this ‘developing country’ status. We simply have all it takes to get there. Almost on daily basis, we hear of new projects and policies designed to take us to the Promised Land. And when closely examined, they are highly elevating and seem very good if only they are well implemented.

The Rivers State Ministry of Education has come up with a strategy plan for the next three years. It details 28 objectives, the activities to fulfil them, the ministries, units and departments to get them done, and the time lines to achieve them.

It is simply impressive. Now, we have a document by which to measure what Rivers State is doing in the education sector. It provides a focus for all the reforms that have been taking place in the state’s education sector since 2007.

The state has taken the step towards strengthening the foundation of its education system. It has gone beyond building beautiful structures to working out the fine details of how to institutionalise principles and practices that will ensure learning outcomes are achieved. Just like the government has made efforts to make the learning environment conducive and meet the learning needs of the pupils, it has followed up with teacher supply and training. The Quality Assurance Agency is already up and ready to run and the school-Based Management Committees (SBMC) have a guidebook to work.

The service charters for public primary and secondary schools, the second document presented alongside with the strategy plan, spells out the quality of education service delivery to be expected from these schools.

However, it is not as if all things are so rosy and there are no problems. At the launch of the Strategy Plan on Monday, Governor Roltimi Amaechi lamented the paucity of funds that has resulted in the delay in paying teachers, and completion of many education projects. He also said the Quality Assurance Agency has not been able to start working because of lack of funds. That has to be taken care of urgently so the strategy plan can be implemented.

Also, the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, has her work cut out for her. For the remaining part of her tenure, she has to ensure that the stipulated time lines on the strategy plan are kept.

It a huge task, but one that if well fulfilled, we as Nigerians will be glad, and it will set a precedent that it is indeed possible for policies to work in this country.